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Greenalite

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Big Photo

La Unión, Sierra de Cartagena, Murcia, Spain
© Marco Barsanti

Show Greenalite Photos (4)



Formula:
Fe
 
2-3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
System:MonoclinicColour:green, light yellow-green
Hardness:2½
Member of:Serpentine Group
Name:Named in allusion to its green colour.


Kaolinite-Serpentine Group.

Classification of Greenalite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.27-60
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.ED.15

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
D : Phyllosilicates with kaolinite layers composed of tetrahedral and octahedral nets
Dana 8th edition ID:71.1.2b.4

71 : PHYLLOSILICATES Sheets of Six-Membered Rings
1 : Sheets of 6-membered rings with 1:1 layers
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.19.6

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
19 : Silicates of Fe
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Type Occurrence of Greenalite

Type Locality:Biwabik, Mesabi Range, St. Louis Co., Minnesota, USA
Year of Discovery:1903

Physical Properties of Greenalite

Lustre:Dull, Earthy
Colour:green, light yellow-green
Streak:greenish-gray
Hardness (Mohs):2½

Crystallography of Greenalite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 5.54Å, b = 9.55Å, c = 7.44Å
β = 104.2°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.58 : 1 : 0.779
Unit Cell Volume:V 381.60 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:oolitic to microcrystalline
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
7.12 (80)
3.559 (80)
2.849 (20)
2.571 (100)
2.184 (40)
1.593 (60)
1.553 (40)

Optical Data of Greenalite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.650 - 1.675 nβ = 1.674 nγ = 1.674
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.024

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Dispersion:weak

Chemical Properties of Greenalite

Formula:
Fe
 
2-3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Essential elements:Fe, H, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Fe, H, O, Si
Common Impurities:Al,Mn,Mg

Relationship of Greenalite to other Species

Member of:Serpentine Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Amesite
Mg
 
2
Al(AlSiO
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Antigorite
Mg
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Baumite
(Mg,Al,Mn,Zn,Fe)
 
3
(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
Berthierine
(Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,AlMg)
 
2-3
((Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Brindleyite
(Ni,Mg,Fe)
 
2
(Al(Si,Al)O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Caryopilite
(Mn,Mg)
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Chrysotile
Mg
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Clinochrysotile
Cronstedtite
Fe
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
((Si,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Dickite
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Fraipontite
(Zn,Al)
 
3
((Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Halloysite
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Kaolinite
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Kellyite
Mn
2+
2
Al(AlSiO
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Lizardite
Mg
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Manandonite
LiAl
 
4
(BSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
6
Nacrite
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Népouite
(Ni,Mg)
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Odinite
(Fe,Mg,Al,Fe,Ti,Mn)
 
2.4
((Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Orthochrysotile
Parachrysotile
Pecoraite
Ni
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Vorhauserite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.ED.05Dickite
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.05Kaolinite
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.05Nacrite
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.05Odinite
(Fe,Mg,Al,Fe,Ti,Mn)
 
2.4
((Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.10Halloysite
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.10Hisingerite
Fe
3+
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.ED.10Halloysite-7Å
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Amesite
Mg
 
2
Al(AlSiO
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Antigorite
Mg
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Berthierine
(Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,AlMg)
 
2-3
((Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Brindleyite
(Ni,Mg,Fe)
 
2
(Al(Si,Al)O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Caryopilite
(Mn,Mg)
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Chrysotile
Mg
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Cronstedtite
Fe
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
((Si,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Fraipontite
(Zn,Al)
 
3
((Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Kellyite
Mn
2+
2
Al(AlSiO
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Lizardite
Mg
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Manandonite
LiAl
 
4
(BSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
6
9.ED.15Népouite
(Ni,Mg)
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Pecoraite
Ni
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Guidottiite
Mn
 
2
Fe
3+
 
(Fe
3+
 
SiO
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.20Allophane
(Al
 
2
O
 
3
)(SiO
 
2
)
 
1.3-2
 · 2.5-3H
 
2
O
9.ED.20Chrysocolla
Cu
 
2-x
Al
 
x
(H
 
2-x
Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
 · nH
 
2
O (x < 1)
9.ED.20Imogolite
Al
 
2
SiO
 
3
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.20Neotocite
(Mn,Fe,Mg)SiO
 
3
 · H
 
2
O
9.ED.25Bismutoferrite
Fe
3+
2
Bi(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
9.ED.25Chapmanite
Fe
3+
2
Sb
3+
 
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.19.1Fayalite
Fe
2+
2
SiO
 
4
14.19.2Ferrosilite
FeSiO
 
3
14.19.3Laihunite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
14.19.4Ferro-anthophyllite
☐{Fe
2+
2
}{Fe
2+
5
}(Si
 
8
O
 
22
)(OH)
 
2
14.19.5Ferripyrophyllite
Fe
3+
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
14.19.7Cronstedtite
Fe
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
((Si,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
14.19.8Hisingerite
Fe
3+
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O

Other Names for Greenalite

Other Languages:
German:Greenalit
Russian:Гриналит
Spanish:Greenalita

Polytypes for Greenalite

Polytypes:
Greenalite-1AGreenalite-1MGreenalite-2M1Greenalite-2ÅGreenalite-3R
Greenalite-3Å

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Greenalite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist: 20: 405-425.

American Mineralogist: 21: 449-455.

Internet Links for Greenalite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Greenalite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Greenalite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Hide Locality List
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Australia
     
    • New South Wales
      • Yancowinna Co.
    		Birch
    • Queensland
      • Mount Isa - Cloncurry area
        • Cloncurry District
    • Tasmania
      • Zeehan district
        • Mt Heemskirk mineral field
    		Kwak, T.A.P., and Nicholson, M. (1988): Mineralogical Magazine 52, 713-716.
    • Western Australia
      • Laverton Shire
        • Laverton
    		Mining Annual Review (1985): 368.
      • Yalgoo Shire
        • Mount Gibson Station
    		The Mount Gibson Banded Iron Formation-Hosted Magnetite Deposits. Two Distinct Processes for the Origin of High Grade Iron Ore; DF Lascelles; Economic Geology; V101, May 2006, pp 651-666
      • Yilgarn Shire
        • Marvel Loch
    Brazil
     
    • Pará
      • Carajás mineral province
        • Marabá
    		Grainger, C.J., Groves, D.I., Tallarico, F.H.B., and Fletcher, I.R. (2008): Ore Geology Reviews 33, 451-489.; Villas, R.N., and Dias Santos, M. (2001): Mineralium Deposita 36, 300-331
    Canada
     
    • British Columbia
      • Slocan Mining Division
        • Riondel
    		No reference listed
    • New Brunswick
      • Gloucester Co.
        • Bathurst Parish
          • Bathurst Mining Camp
    		Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, p.143; Canadian Mineralogist Vol.22, pp. 253-258 (1984)
    • Newfoundland and Labrador
      • Labrador
    		C. Klein, and R. P. Fink, 1976, Petrology of the Sokoman Iron Formation in the Howells River area, at the western edge of the Labrador Trough, Economic Geology, v. 71; no. 2; p. 453-487
    C. Klein, and R. P. Fink, 1976, Petrology of the Sokoman Iron Formation in the Howells River area, at the western edge of the Labrador Trough, Economic Geology, v. 71; no. 2; p. 453-487
    • Ontario
      • Algoma District
        • Blind River-Elliot Lake uranium district
    		Robertson, J.A. (1976) The Blind River Uranium Deposits: the ores and their setting. (Ontario Division of Mines, Miscellaneous paper 65)
      • Thunder Bay District
        • Oliver Paipoonge Township
    		Vos, M. A., 1976, Amethyst Deposits of Ontario, Ontario Division of Mines, pp. 99..
    • Québec
      • Abitibi-Témiscamingue
        • Rouyn-Noranda TE
    		Galley, A.G., Jonasson, I.R., and Watkinson, D.H. (2000): Mineralium Deposita 35, 619-637.; Econ Geol. (1995) 90:2006-2017
    China
     
    • Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
      • Chongzuo Prefecture
        • Daxin Co.
    		Zeng, Y., and Liu, T. (1999): Ore Geology Reviews 15(1), 153-163.
    Czech Republic
     
    • Moravia (Mähren; Maehren)
      • Olomouc Region
        • Vernířovice
    		Novotný, P., Zimák, J.: Puklinová mineralizace alpského typu na lokalitách „Mísečky“ a „Černý důl“ u Vernířovic. Acta Musei Moraviae, Sci. geol., 2003, roč. 88, s. 123-138.
    Israel
     
    • Negev
    		Vapnik, Y., Sokol, E., Murashko M., Sharygin V. (2006): The enigma of Hatrurim. Mineralogical Almanac, 10, 69-77.
    Italy
     
    • Liguria
      • Genova Province
        • Sestri Levante
    		Carbone, C. , Marescotti, P., Cabella, R., Lucchetti, G. (2002): Sulfide alteration and related secondary minerals from the Libiola mine (Eastern Liguria, Italy). Poster at the 82° SIMP Congress , Arcavacata di Rende (CS) 18-20/09/2002. Abstract in Plinius 28 , 88-89.
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Kanto Region
        • Saitama Prefecture
          • Chichibu City
    		Dr. Matsuo Nambu collection (curated at Geological Survey of Japan)
          • Hannou
    		Kato, A. (2010) Mumeikai Group meeting, No. 30.
    • Shikoku Island
      • Kochi Prefecture
        • Kami City
    		Dr. Matsuo Nambu collection (curated at Geological Survey of Japan)
        • Kochi City
    		Matsubara, S. & Kato, A. (1989) Manganbabingtonite from Mitani, Kochi City, Japan. Bulletin of the National Science Museum (Tokyo), 15, #3, 81-89.
    Romania
     
    • Suceava Co.
      • Suceava district
        • Iacobeni (Jakobeny; Jacobeny; Jakabfalva)
    		http://minerals-of-the-carpathians.eu
    Russia
     
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Primorskiy Kray
        • Kavalerovo Mining District
    		Bernard & Hyrsl (2004): Minerals and their Localities, 259.
    South Africa
     
    • Mpumalanga Province
      • Kromdraai 209 JR farm
    		S. Weinert (2006) Locality Data Sheet ML35 (South African Micromount Society)
    • Northern Cape Province
    		Minerals of South Africa
    Spain
     
    • Madrid
    		Tanago, J. G., Lozano, P. L., Larios, A. , La Iglesia, A. (2012) Stokesite crystals from La Cabrera, Madrid, Spain. Mineralogical Record 43:499-508
    • Murcia
      • La Unión
        • Sierra Minera de Cartagena-La Unión
          • Sancti Spiritu
      • Sierra de Cartagena
        • La Unión
          • Portman
    		G.L. Garcia, Una aproximacion reciente a la mineralogia de las cortas Gloria y San Jose de la Union, Paleomina (2011)
    Sweden
     
    • Västmanland
      • Hällefors
        • Hjulsjö
    		Mineralogical Magazine (1985) 49 (353), 611-613
    Switzerland
     
    • Grischun (Grisons; Graubünden)
      • Oberhalbstein (Surses; Sursass)
        • Marmorera lake
    		Volker Dietrich (1972) Die sulfidischen Vererzungen in den Oberhalbsteiner Serpentiniten. Beitrage zur Geologie der Schweiz. Geotechnische Serie 49.
    Stalder, H. A., Wagner, A., Graeser, S. and Stuker, P. (1998): "Mineralienlexikon der Schweiz", Wepf (Basel), p. 198.
    Tajikistan
     
    • Viloyati Sogd (Viloyati Sughd; Viloyati Khodzhent; Viloyati Leninabad)
      • Zeravshan Range
        • Yagnob River
    		Sharygin, V.V., Sokol, E.V. and Belakovskii, D.I. (2009): Fayalite-sekaninaite paralava from the Ravat coal fire (central Tajikistan). Russian Geology and Geophysics 50, 703-721.
    USA
     
    • Alabama
      • Clay Co.
    		Rocks & Min 70:5 pp 320-333
      • Randolph Co.
        • Cragford District
    		Mineralogy of Alabama Geol Surv Ala. Bull120
    Mineralogy of Alabama Geol Surv Ala. Bull120
    • Michigan
    		Mineralogy of Michigan (2004) Heinrich & Robinson
        • Menominee iron range
    		Thomas M. Bee specimens
    www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-glm-rcim-geology-Minerals_Found_In_Michigan.Pdf.
    www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-glm-rcim-geology-Minerals_Found_In_Michigan.Pdf.
    www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-glm-rcim-geology-Minerals_Found_In_Michigan.Pdf.
        • Marquette iron range
          • Palmer
    		Mineralogy of Michigan (2004) Heinrich & Robinson
          • Republic
    		U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
    • Minnesota
    		Jay Ellis Ransom,1974, Gems and Minerals of America
    Jay Ellis Ransom,1974, Gems and Minerals of America
        • Ely-Hoyt Lakes Area
    		Econ Geol (1993) 88:679-696
        • Mesabi Range
    		Am Min 20:405-425
    No reference listed
    • Oregon
      • Coos Co.
    		Robert Muir Wood (1982) The Laytonville Quarry (Mendocino County California) Exotic Block: Iron-rich Blueschist-Facies Subduction-Zone Metamorphism. Mineralogical Magazine 45:87-99.
    • Washington
      • Ferry Co.
        • Belcher District
          • Cooke Mountain
    		Can Mineral February 1998 v. 36 no. 1 p. 147-162
    • Wisconsin
    		USGS Bul.1460:96
    Yemen
     
    • Hadramawt Governorate
    		Zolensky, M. & A.Ivanov, Chemie der Erde 63,185-246(2003)
    Mineral and/or Locality
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